Super Righteous Player
Chapter 1041 - 99: The Means to Change the World

Chapter 1041: Chapter 99: The Means to Change the World

Isaac had already vaguely sensed something.

His brows were tightly furrowed as he pondered seriously, "So it is... Technology in itself, the improvements it brings to people’s lives, does not signify societal improvement as a whole. Even these useful new technologies might not actually have a real impact."

"Yes. The research direction of Salvatore and his teacher, Pope Benjamin, is ’transformation products that even commoners and the poor can use.’"

Annan nodded and revealed a secret unknown to Isaac, "Because the original drive for Benjamin to become a transformation wizard was the time when his childhood sweetheart needed a transformation product the most and could not afford it.

"He then vowed: If he could become a notable transformation wizard, he would definitely develop transformation products that most people could afford. He didn’t want the tragedy of his girlfriend to repeat itself.

"—Now, he has achieved it."

Though Annan was recounting someone else’s story, his eyes seemed to be sparkling with light.

Under Isaac’s gaze, Annan slowly said, "These new technologies have already permeated the lives of the people bit by bit. But they have not yet accumulated enough to cause a qualitative change... In other words, they are not sufficient to break down that wall.

"Just like when advancing to a higher echelon of Stigmatization, only those with sufficiently intense desires can have the ’power’ to remain themselves—if the people’s longing for change isn’t strong enough, then their ’desire’ will burn out before reaching a new realm.

"Now there are only a few, world-wise individuals like you who have begun to realize that the backward ’Traditions’ of Dennisiowa are becoming obstacles for the new generation...

"However, due to the pirate system, Dennisiowa has fallen into a strange ’equilibrium.’ People maintain their social status by persecuting others... Just like that, they are content. This balance has not yet been broken, and people do not yet have an urgent wish to change everything."

Annan pointed out the real problem facing Dennisiowa.

That is, Dennisiowa is not truly a "land of lawlessness."

It does have order, but that order itself is profoundly corrupt. And this corrupt order is recognized by the people of Dennisiowa.

"So, how should we change the situation in Dennisiowa?"

Isaac leaned forward slightly and added, "I’m not counting on changing the world... That’s too complex, too vast. It’s just like a person without dreams saying, ’I want to become someone great.’

"If we were to change Dennisiowa... To at least make it somewhat like Noah. Your Majesty Annan, do you have any method?"

"That’s difficult. Or rather, it’s very difficult."

Annan spoke honestly, "If you were King of Dennisiowa, it might be a bit easier. But you are just a dead man who has been gone for over a hundred years, and I am not even a local of the United Kingdom.

"The problems Dennisiowa faces are not that people want to change it while encountering some insurmountable resistance; it’s that from the King down to the common folk, no one thinks there’s anything wrong.

"Because of the more than a hundred years of pirate Tradition..."

"Two hundred years."

Isaac corrected.

"Yes, more than two hundred years of pirate Tradition have accustomed the people to this barbaric way of life—they are used to oppressing others, used to corruption and betrayal, they don’t even consider ’killing others’ as unforgivable but as a ’potentially self-endangering radical approach.’

"That is to say, the entirety of Dennisiowa is selfish. Even the poorest people at the bottom sincerely don’t see anything wrong with it—Dennisiowa’s people do not long for change. At most, they only wish ’to become the higher one, the person who can oppress others.’

"This is an illness that the United Kingdom has suffered for over two hundred years. It can only be cured by the young people of this nation themselves."

"...Yes."

Isaac nodded gravely, "I was once one of those people. It was only after I entered the Jade Tower to study that I gradually realized that it was wrong, barbaric, backward."

"So it’s simple then."

Annan snapped his fingers, "That’s education. More widespread and higher quality education can fundamentally improve the quality of the citizens.

"These adults are beyond saving. They live in a nation of pirates and think like pirates. But the children are different... through the guidance of education, there’s still a chance to save these children.

"Besides abilities, we first need to strengthen the children’s morality. Then, it’s about broadening their horizons, so they are neither arrogant nor inferior as they understand the world outside. After that, it’s about igniting the desire to change the world in their hearts—making them realize that Dennisiowa cannot continue like this.

"Those among them who excel, in the survival of the fittest that is the United Kingdom, can naturally become leaders with ease. And it’s their thinking that will gradually change others.

"One person can influence a group, and this group can influence more people—since traditions are deeply rooted, and it’s hard to eradicate people’s prejudices. If we try to influence them with force, it will backfire. So, we’ll use more pervasive, more correct ideas to infect them...

"Because what Dennisiowa really needs to change urgently is not the lack of some technology, but the numbness of people’s ’hearts.’"

"...So it is."

Isaac murmured.

In the education he had received before, it was all about the elite theory that technology is supreme.

That is, the reason the world isn’t perfect is that almost all people in the world are wasteful in their stupor. At most, they can keep the world unchanged, but those who can truly change the world and bring about breakthroughs in the era are only a tiny elite.

And they are to become that tiny elite—using epoch-making technology to change the world. The more advanced the technology and theory, the quicker the world mired in a quagmire can be lifted out.

This was the theory of the Jade Tower.

It was also the belief of every wizard who came from the Jade Tower.

They believed... that even if for the time being, their technology couldn’t bring about change, it would ultimately make the world a better place.

Isaac, of course, was also a believer in this theory.

It was exactly when he realized that Dennisiowa’s "better" was not the same as what he thought was "better" that he started to have intense self-doubt.

But now, under Annan’s guidance, he was gradually becoming aware of another side of the truth, "I seem to understand some of it, but not completely... Are you saying that the technology we develop is only a ’key’? But the ones who can really open the doors to a new era are the people themselves?

"And the problem with Dennisiowa is, not the wrong key but the key holders who do not wish to open the door? So what we need to change now is the mindset, not the technology."

"...More or less, though I feel you’ve made it more complicated than it is, you can understand it that way. However, you should note that you’re going from one extreme to another. Technology is also needed... or rather, it is also a kind of technology—a technological discipline in the humanities and social sciences.

"Encouraging ’progress’ is, of course, not wrong. It’s just that your vision is too narrow, focusing only on what you want to see. Of course, all Wizard’s Towers have this problem..."

Annan shrugged and downed the remaining half glass of mint rum.

He let out a satisfied sigh, picked up the scepter at the side of the table, "Let’s go."

"Where to?"

Isaac, a local, subconsciously asked.

Without knowing when, he had started to habitually follow Annan’s instructions.

"Let’s have a talk with Yawen. In the name of his future colleague."

Annan narrowed his eyes.

An aura of a superior, which even Isaac felt in awe of, had appeared on him at some point, "Although it’s just a casual talk, your doubts have reminded me of something. I think I know what Yawen wants to do... but I’m still not certain. So I’ll go talk to him.

"Hopefully, the old man hasn’t gone on a business trip with the Silver Baron."